Chiffon comes from the French word for cloth or rag, however, the term chiffon describes the method that is used in order to create the fabric. It is a lightweight plain-woven sheer fabric that's commonly made from cotton, silk or a synthetic fiber. The material has some stretch to it and is somewhat rough to the touch. Chiffon has been worn as early as 1902 and continues to be a popular fabric today-especially in wedding and evening wear.
The more popular uses for chiffon include the making of wedding gowns and other formal attire. Other suggested uses are blouses, skirts, dresses and pajamas. The fabric is also great for scarves, veils and saris, which is an uncut/unstitched transparent piece of cloth worn by women in India. Chiffon is the mesh like weave that gives the see-through appearance for such items. The fabric can also be woven for a checkerboard or twisted look. When it is twisted the fabric has a crumply appearance and in this case, the stitching must been done meticulously and be very straight and narrow so it will improve the overall appearance of the garment.
There are several advantages and disadvantages to wearing chiffon. Advantages include durability, coolness, easy to dye and absorbency. Chiffon is also easy to wash and more economical than other materials. Disadvantages include the shrinkage factor. If not cared for properly, the garment can shrivel and stretch out of shape. If not washed with like colors, bleeding or color-loss may occur. Other disadvantages include sun damage if over- exposed as well as mildew if stored for long periods of time. Chiffon is fabric that frays easily. It is also difficult to cut and sew because it is lightweight and slippery.
Chiffon may last for several years if given proper care. To prevent fraying be sure the French seams are sewn in on a finished garment. To avoid additional fraying when pre-washing, a stitched line should be sewn along the edges. To help make cutting easier, place the fabric on a non-slip surface and sandwich between layers of tissue paper. Be sure the scissors are sharpened and designed to cut material rather than paper. Test the material for bleeding by washing with a machine or by line-washing. Always iron chiffon while slightly damp to reduce wrinkles. Dry cleaning is also an option.
Shopping for this material is not difficult. Most fabric stores have plenty of options. The first step is to call 2-3 stores to make sure it is in stock. If in stock, ask for desired weight and texture as well as color. If the color is not in stock, in most cases the store can have it ordered. If you cannot find the proper color, consider dyeing a basic white. Another option to purchasing chiffon is to buy an actual swatch online and taking it to the store. This gives the retailer the exact specifications of what you are looking for.
